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History

Brief History of the Parish:

1907

The need for another Episcopal church in Montgomery was realized. Many of the forty thousand Montgomery residents had moved to the newly formed Cloverdale area. The Episcopal Church of the Ascension began as a mission church of the historic downtown St. John's Church.

1908

Ascension's first vestry was elected.

1909

 The ceremony for groundbreaking took place. The church was designed by Ralph Adams Cram of Boston, the architect most responsible for the Gothic revival in America.
1910

The cornerstone was laid; this was soon followed by the first service in the completed nave on Easter Day, March 27, 1910. The Reverend Frederick du M. Devall became the first rector, serving this church until 1917.
1911

The Church of the Ascension was admitted to the diocese of Alabama as a parish.

1917

The Reverend Francis J.H. Coffin succeeded the Reverend Devall, serving as rector for two years in a most trying time during World War I.  

1919

The Reverend Peerce Naylor McDonald became rector of the parish. During this time the second section of the church was completed-the foundation of the crossing, transepts, chancel and a parish house below, thus giving facilities for Sunday School and parish meetings. Mr. McDonald continued to serve the Church of the Ascension in his quiet, gracious, and patient way until his death in October 1946.

1947

The Reverend Thomas Robinson Thrasher arrived to serve as rector; during his thirteen years of spiritual ministry, the parish house was completed. All Saint's Church in east Montgomery started as a mission sponsored by the Church of the Ascension. Mr. Thrasher accepted a call in 1960, leaving Ascension without a rector for seventeen months. As a point of significance, the church lost virtually no members during that time.

1961

The Reverend Mark Edward Waldo became the fifth rector of the parish and served until his retirement in 1989. Mr. Waldo was also a respected Christian leader in our community during the Civil Rights Movement.

1984

 

A fire devastated the church. Although the fire caused severe damage to the church building, it failed to destroy the will and spirit of the parishioners. Through the use of insurance money and a successful two-million-dollar "Moment of Opportunity" parish capital campaign, the church was not simply rebuilt, but expanded.

1990

The Reverend John Michael van Dyke was called to Ascension as rector. 1997 The Vestry approved a Capital Stewardship Campaign to meet the needs of our rapidly growing parish. The 4.5-million-dollar expansion project consisted of a 6,000 square foot freestanding youth facility along with a 3-story addition to the original building.
2005

Reverend van Dyke left Ascension to form a separate Anglican congregation. Ascension was blessed to have several talented interim pastors including the Reverend Sam Mason and the Reverend David Landers.
 2007 In April of 2007 the Rev. John Coleman accepted the call to be Ascension's 7th rector.
 2008  The Ascension celebrated its 100th anniversary.
 Present The Ascension continues to seek to love and serve God and neighbor as faithful witnesses of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We do this through worship, prayer, study and service.  Come and join us!